I have owned this 1971 'Cuda for nearly ten years now. After previously owning my first 'Cuda years ago, I knew I wanted to fully restore one, and I waited a long time to find this car. I felt very fortunate that I was finally able to buy the sheet metal to make it happen. It actually took over 8 years to accumulate all of the restoration parts I wanted for this project, and just over a year to get it into the shape you see here.

Although a vehicle's name is only a small part of its appeal, there are a handful of classic cars that seem to be perfectly named to match their design and intent. The Plymouth Barracuda is a great example, and it's not just because we have a soft spot for vehicles with animal-inspired names, like the Mustang, Impala, or Road Runner. The sleek, agile, and intimidating nature of this predatory fish served as a perfect moniker for one of our favorite Mopar cars. Read on as we take a look back at A-Body and E-Body Plymouth Barracuda history.

You may have heard the term Mopar in reference to classic Dodge and Plymouth cars, but do you know what it really means? What is a Mopar car, and where did this term originate? Back in 1937, the marketing team at Chrysler Motor Parts Corporation was trying to come up with new branding for the replacement parts and accessories it offered for Chrysler, Dodge, Plymouth, and DeSoto vehicles. The words Motor and Parts were combined into Mopar. This catchy term was first used to market a new line of antifreeze, but would later be applied to all of the Chrysler group's official maintenance, repair, and performance parts.

Everyone from Classic Industries who saw this '70 Plymouth Road Runner Superbird at the 2020 Grand National Roadster Show was amazed at how great the car looked. The Road Runner was so nice we wondered whether any Classic Industries parts were used in the restoration of the car. We hoped so, because we'd use that as leverage, so that we could snap some photos and write an article for posting on the Classic Industries website.

Having been held 71 times, the Grand National Roadster Show is the world's longest-running indoor car show. Classic Industries has been a part of this venerable event on several occasions, most recently for the show that was held Friday, January 24 through Sunday, January 26. Over the three days, 50,000 fans witnessed first hand the more than 490 world-class muscle cars, roadsters, hot rods and customs inside the several buildings at the Pomona, California Fairplex. Especially on show-Saturday, there were also well over 700 cool cars and trucks that drove in carrying more muscle car mavens and hot rod heroes that graced the outdoor landscape of the L.A. County Fairgrounds. 

When you think of the Mopar B-body, you might picture any number of classics: the Coronet, Charger, Satellite, Road Runner, or even the winged Daytona and Superbird. However, the first vehicle that came to mind probably wouldn't be a Plymouth Savoy. This Mopar might get a little less attention than the more common B-body cars, but it's absolutely cool in its own right.

One of our favorite things about late '60s and early '70s Mopar cars is their use of vibrant High Impact paint colors. From Sublime and Panther Pink to Go Mango and Lemon Twist, even the names of these hues made an in-your-face statement. They also played a large role in keeping these cars memorable, even to non-car-enthusiasts. One of your friends might not know the first thing about cars, but he'll certainly turn to stare at the bright green muscle car with the roaring V8 engine.

This 1970 Plymouth 'Cuda belongs to Alex Uribe, of Redlands, California. The car is painted In Violet, which was Plymouth's name for the purple known as Plum Crazy on Dodge models.

Growth from Necessity

The saying: “Necessity is the mother of invention” is true in so many of life’s scenarios, and has had an continuous impact on society. Where would civilization be without the wheel? Where would technology be if it weren’t for Bill Gates and Steve Jobs? Where would the exotic car world be if Ferruccio Lamborghini didn’t have his “unpleasant customer experience” when he tried to get his Ferrari fixed? Well, that last example was more about needing to “stick it” to someone rather than to build a car—but he still changed the automotive world!

It’s every car enthusiast’s dream to participate in a barnfind. We fantasize about discovering a rare, original, and highly sought-after classic car that had been stowed away in a barn, garage, or yard for decades, preserved like a time capsule from the past. Unfortunately, the reality is that these barnfinds are still old cars. They've been sitting in the same spot without use or maintenance, often for decades. So, if you come across one of these vehicles, how should you examine, repair, and restore it?